Tigers Tigers Tigers

We definitely got our moneys worth out of these tiger costumes! With the exception of the Ashton Doggy year in 2013 we have always been Halloween Tigers.  Over a month before Halloween Ashton got out his white tiger costume from last year and tried it on and guess what... it still fit! So we got out the orange tiger costume for Julian and... it still fit! 

After an afternoon of playing tigers Ash decided he wanted everyone to be tigers again this year.  At first I was kinda bummed because I was looking forward to picking out new costumes this year but if the costume fits...  

It did make me happy to know that Ashton still had a love for white tigers.  

We got to wear our costumes quite a bit this year.  I love all the Halloween activites that go on around Fort Worth.  We couldn't have attended all of them if we had wanted to! We had fun decorating pumpkins and checking out all the other fun kids in costumes at the Ridgmar Mall Kids Club early in the month.  Next was Boo at the Zoo.  Trick or treating around the zoo is always fun.  

I told them to say "RAWWWR!"

Ashton was extremely excited to see the white tiger again, and lets be honest so was I.  Last year was still one of the coolest experiences and we definitely love that white mama tiger.  It was a rainy day so our friend was hiding, but the orange tiger did make an appearance long enough for us to get a family tiger picture.

Julian saying "trick or treat" is the cutest thing.  He is a huge fan of the suckers for sure. 

We did Reverse Trick or Treating again at Dad's school with SAA.  It's always fun to get to visit Daddy on campus, especially when candy is involved.  

The school threw a fun Halloween Party a few nights later full of fun games and you guessed it more candy.  Dad even took a break from studying the night before his test to come play with us. 

The morning before Halloween we went with friends to a fun Toddler Jump party at Flight Deck.  This was my favorite party of the season.  It was so fun to jump and play with the boys.  Ashton even won a prize in the costume contest!   That night we had our ward Halloween party at the church. 

 We trick or treated around to different classrooms and Ash and Dad even went through the haunted house!

Ashton has been super into Halloween this year.  I can't even count how many times we have watched Curious George's Halloween.  We've made so many "spooky" Halloween crafts and he loves talking about the different things that make it spooky, but that aren't real.  He made this picture to send to Baby Miles.  

He has been practicing his name, but this was the first time he had ever tried to write anything else.  I was so proud and impressed!

Halloween fell on a Saturday which was nice because we had Dad home with us all day!  We had a perfect Halloween, in my opinion.  We went and saw Hotel Transylvania 2 at the movie theaters.  They had big recliner seats that were so comfy.  We started with four recliners and ended up with all of us snuggled up on two of them eating popcorn together.  Moments like that make my heart so full of joy.

  After the movie we put our costumes on and trick or treated around the mall.  Nice and easy!  On the way home we drove through some neighborhoods that were known for their "spooky" decorations.  Ashton was out before he could even finish his candy.  We came home and finished the night off with soup, grilled cheese, and candy. 

Love these little Kitty Cat Tigers SO MUCH!

Halloween Puppy

  

Just like last year Halloween is still my favorite.  This year though Ash got to pick out his costume.  He chose to be a dog.  Which is fitting because sometimes I worry he really thinks he is a dog.  Anytime he gets embarrassed, scared, or overly excited he *poof* goes into puppy mode licking and everything. It's hilarious actually.

I had really high hopes for this year since we had such a blast last year.  At first I felt like everything was falling apart since all of the plans and activities I had wanted to take him to ended up with conflicts.  However, in the end, I was just as crazy excited as Ashton was Halloween night and couldn't keep from smiling.  

We did some pre-trick-or-treating at Station Park in Farmington with the Larsons the weekend before.  Then Halloween day we went over to the Reynolds for yummy soup and breadsticks before heading out the door with the boys.  Growing up in Washington we didn't trick-or-treat much, we did the trunk-or-treat thing and loved it, but we didn't go to too many houses.  I thought we would make it down one street, boy was I wrong!  We did the entire neighborhood.  

This kid got so loaded up, people give out sodas and bags of chips, toys, and king size candy this part of town (perks of living in a basement apartment in the fancy neighborhood).  Ashton was a little hesitant the first few houses, but was running everywhere by the end.  His costume had a tail on it that would wag when he ran, I couldn't stop laughing watching him.  It was past 9:00pm when we got him home, we were definitely the only parents with little little kids out by that time.

I tried hard to get a picture of all three boys looking at one time, but the sugar had already gotten to them and it wasn't happening.  Elmo, Race Car Driver, and Dog.

We couldn't get Ashton to say "trick or treat" instead he would run up and "woof" at them.  

Which usually resulted in him getting multiple pieces of candy because people thought it was so cute.  

Four days later and he still had a little stash, which is surprising for Ash, he is quite the sugar monster and LOVES his candy (almost as much as his mom does).  I really think Halloween should come twice a year right? 

2012 according to Instagram

2012 couldn't have been much better.  

We saw so many changes and experienced so many firsts with our little man.  

Every day was a new adventure.  

Since this blog has turned more into a journal/scrapbook than anything else and most of my memories are on Instagram now, these are the photos that I just don't want to forget.

Like smiles.

The best baby eyes ever,

and baby toes.

We went to a few BYU games.

(9 months)

Worked on our muscles

so we could show them off at Seven Peaks.

(7 months)

Had the best cuddles. 

Helped Dad with homework projects

and helped Aislinn, Alex, Annalise, and Mom at work LOTS.

We played with puppies

(9 months)

and a few more of Ashton's favorite things.

Ashton loves snuggling all things soft but he loves driving and playing in cars even more.

Getting to eat solids was a pretty exciting thing this past year,

(7 months)

anything end everything from straight onions to spaghetti, to raspberries, to donuts, he loved it all.

We walked for a cure with CureSearch again, go team Super Skyler!

(10 months)

Got a new car seat

(7.5 months)

and learned about computers, teeth brushing, cooking, and some light reading.  

Adventured with Mom to California

(5.5 months)

and to Idaho for a family reunion.

Had an amazing Baby Blessing.

(3 Months)

The best Halloween

(11 months)

and a perfect Birthday.

Recap of 2012
Live: Alpine, Utah
Drive: BMW, and a Prius (yes we got a new car, and yes I miss the Maxima, and yes we now drive a Prius, check out our gas mileage and you won't make fun of us).
Work: Blue Lemon for Jen
School: BYU for Jase
Church Callings: 12 year old Sunday School teachers and RS Activity Committee
Travelled to: Canada for Jason, California for Ashton and Mom, Idaho a few times for all, Las Vegas for Jen and Jason, and St. George for all.
Highlights: Baby firsts, swimming, baby laughs, Band of Horses, the zoo, Real games, playing, crawling, walking, all things Ashton.
Goals for 2013: Play harder, laugh more, make it to the Temple, find time for each other even with our busy school/work schedules, try and drive the same cars all year long, take the MCAT, graduation, hug Ashton till he just can't take it anymore.

My favorite Insta pictures of 2012 that haven't made it onto other posts:

 (5 months)

 (3.5 months)

( 9.5 months)

(4 months)

(11 months)

(4.5 months)

Oh the many faces of Ashton Jay

Tiger Love

Halloween is officially my favorite holiday now.  Be prepared for an overload of pictures, because honestly, I just can't get enough of this little tiger!

The weekend before Halloween we met up with the Larson's (Jason's sister's fam) and went to the Pumpkin Parade at the Shops at the Riverwoods.  

They had trick or treating in the stores, petting farm, wagon rides, a headless horseman, balloons, bounce houses, games, and lots and lots of pumpkins.  The whole event was awesome.  I love having a little one to give me the excuse to play again. 

Ashton's cousin Everett is just a few months older than him.  I love that he has a cousin so close in age and I love that Brittany will hang out with me.

Little animal bums.  Ashton has a thing for bounce houses,

and I have a thing for the Waffle Love truck.  It's just delicious and genius. 

Love these two boys with all my heart.

I had all sorts of plans for the actual day of Halloween, but little Ashton decided a nap was more important.  Instead we stopped by Blue Lemon to say hello to our favorite people and did some quick trick or treating at the mall.  Ashton picked out his pumpkin bucket about a month before Halloween, he saw it at the store one day and wouldn't put it down.  It's actually made quite the entertaining toy. 

This time Ashton understood a little bit more the whole putting candy in his bucket thing and would hold it out to people rather than just stare at them blankly.
We met up for dinner with Ashton's buddy Mack, and Brent and Krista.  On the way home I had set Ashton's candy bucket on the seat next to him, not thinking he'd be able to reach it.  He was being awfully quiet on the ride home and when I looked back to check on him he had half eaten about every piece of candy in his bucket and was a sticky mess, covered in partially opened suckers and half eaten tootsie rolls.  The kids a sugar monster I tell ya. 

I've decided that little kids should be able to dress up like this year round.  Seriously does it get any cuter?